View full sizeKym PokornyI'm afraid we're having two Great Phormium Melts in a row. The strawberry tree in the foreground looks OK, though it's fallen over. My old one looked fine well into spring last year, but didn't make it.
Are you in the is-that-plant-dead phase yet? I am. I try not to look. Especially at the things I planted late in fall or replaced because of destruction last year. Some are too obvious to miss, though. Like the phormiums. Yes, they're dead again. I'm also pretty worried about some very small hardy fuchsias I planted in September. I threw some fir boughs over them ... after the hard, extended freezes. Why did I even bother that late?

Even though I was adamant about this being a mild -- or at least milder -- winter, I was wrong. I admit it. Of course, it would be impossible not to admit it now, though I could just ignore my screw-up. So I get credit for bringing it up and eating crow.

Like last year, some things won't show damage until after they come out of dormancy. I'll

View full sizeKym PokornyIt will be a huge loss if Ceanothus 'Diamond Heights' dies.keep a positive thought about those plants, which looked bad in spring but pulled out of it, including Callistemon 'Woodlander's Hardy Red' (bottlebrush) (Zone 7). I lost hope last year and then, lo and behold, foliage appeared and it was as good as ever; big-levfed Rhododendron sinogrande (Zone 8); and Arbutus 'Marina' (strawberry tree) (Zone 8): Three-year-old plant died last year. What makes me think a new one will survive?

I'm most concerned about the variegated Ceanothus 'Diamond Heights' (Zone 8) spilling over the concrete retaining wall on one side of my driveway. It finally started to go for it this year, which is really great because the wall is stark and ugly, and this creeper is the first thing to do well there. If it dies, I'll have to start all over again.

View full sizeKym PokornyI don't care how hardy it is, Gardenia 'Chuck Hayes' does not look good.Gardenia 'Chuck Hayes' (Zone 7): Came through with flying colors and then I almost killed it by overwatering. I think this winter it's been smacked by the kiss of death. Parahebe perfoliata (Zone 7): Died to the ground last year. Came back hesitantly. Never looked very good. Don't have much hope.Loropetalum (Chinese fringe flower) (Zone 8): Other people said they lost theirs last year. Mine didn't have a drop of damage. Now the foliage is looking burned.

Fig (I don't know): When I planted my fig, I didn't care whether it bore fruit or not. It was the tropical-looking foliage I was going for. Then I discovered I'm mad for figs. My plant fruited, but not till fall, and the fruit was small and never got all that ripe. If anyone has any suggestions for a replacement, I'd take them gratefully.Blue palm (Brahea armata) (Zone 9, though Steve Linn, manager of Raintree Tropical, where I bought it, said it went through last year's temps with no problem): We'll see.

Interestingly enough, the Farfugium (or Ligularia, whatever they call it nowadays) (Zone 8) with gold rims (anyone know what this is; all I can find is 'Gold Ring' and that doesn't seem right) wilted to the ground and then popped back up. I was flabbergasted.

There we go. That's what I'm thinking about. What worries you?-- Kym Pokorny